Laxmeesha Somappa

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Tufts University

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Laxmeesha Somappa is a rising researcher at the intersection of additive manufacturing and soft robotics, with a core focus on developing low-cost, sensor-embedded robotic systems. Her major contributions lie in the design and fabrication of 3D-printed robotic hands and fingers that integrate embedded tactile and strain sensors, enabling them to perceive pressure and track bending. This work addresses a critical challenge in robotics: creating functional, affordable, and easily customizable prosthetics and grippers. Her most-cited paper, "Design and Development of a Robotic Hand with Embedded Sensors Using 3D Printing Technology" (2021, 9 citations), showcases her approach to fully integrated, printed systems. In a key earlier study (2020, 4 citations), she demonstrated a simple, low-cost 3D-printed finger that uses a flexible piezoresistive polymer for pressure sensing and a thread-based carbon-coated strain sensor for tracking finger bending. By leveraging accessible materials and manufacturing techniques, Somappa’s work paves the way for democratizing advanced robotic components, making them more accessible for research, education, and assistive technology applications.